By The Saracens
July 30 2022

It’s that time of year again! Time for Sarries fans to vote for their favourites! This year we have condensed the poll a bit so hopefully lots of you will vote. Please do not post your votes here but email them to unofish@hotmail.co.uk Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 14th August       Please feel free to also include your nominations from the women's team as well               

1.            

         1.SARACENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR (2021 Tim Swinson)

Who deserves the highest accolade? Ben Earl will be hard to beat – afterall he is the Premiership Player of the Year, but someone else might have caught your eye. It may have been Vincent Koch’s his last season but what a season! Max Malins was the Premiership’s leading try scorer. Billy reinvented himself back to the Billy we know and love. The 2 Nicks both had brilliant seasons with International recognition – Nick Tompkins sealing the 12 shirt for Wales and Nick Isiekwe impressing for England. Jamie George and Maro Itoje are always there or thereabouts and then there was Theo! Loz had a brilliant season until he picked up an injury. Or maybe your player of the year was someone else?

     2.            SARACENS YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (2021 Dom Morris)

Which of our youngsters made the biggest impression this season? Rotimi Segun became a first team regular this season, Andy Christie sealed down a place in the Scotland team and Sam Wainwright won his first Welsh cap. Callum Hunter-Hill went from strength to strength. Which of our budding youngsters is your choice for Young Player of the Year?

     3.            SARACENS OLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Tim Swinson)

The “old boys” are having a field day right now. Alex Goode is as good as ever, Sean Maitland had one of his best seasons, Baz Barrington let no one down. Jackson Wray is Sarries to the bone and Tim Swinson had another great season. Which of the “old boys” is your Saracens Old Player of the Year ?

     4.            SARACENS UNSUNG HERO (2021 Jackson Wray)

Who is Saracen’s unsung hero? The back rower that will play on the wing, the guy who always steps up when needed? Duncan Taylor was finally back for an extended run, Baz Barrington was a willing replacement for Mako, Jackson Wray was always there to cover the back row. Ben Earl is England’s forgotten hero, Loz seems happy to fill in almost anywhere in the backs and Alex Lewington never lets anyone down. Who is your Saracens’ unsung hero?

     5.            SARACENS MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (2021 Aled Davies)

Which played has made the most progress this seaspn? There are a few candidates here: Theo McFarland, Rotimi Segun, Sam Wainwright, Andy Christie have all come on a lot. What about Billy who won his England place back? Loz has been a revelation since his return to England and Max Malins and Ben Earl are far better players for their time in Bristol. There are others too – who is your choice for Saracens’ most improved player?

     6.            FAVOURITE SARRIES PLAYER (2021 Jamie George)

We all have our favourites don’t we. Who is the one player you most like to see? England Captain Owen Farrell maybe? Or Jamie George, Billy Vunipola, Alex Goode – the choice is enormous but who is your favourite Saracens’ player?

      7.           PLAYER YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO SIGN FOR SARACENS (2021 Cheslin Kolbe)

     Forget about salary caps, if money was no object, which player would you most like to see in a Sarries’ shirt next season? You can choose from anywhere in the world! A new hooker like Malcolm Marx or Bongi Mbonambi maybe or a new scrum half like Antoine Dupont or Faf de Klerk? What about one of those fabulous      South African wingers Cheslin Kolbe or Makazole Mapimpi? Or the fabulous Eben Etzebeth. Or would you just like Vincent to stay? Who would you bring to the StoneX if you could?

      8.           BEST GROUND TO VISIT (apart from StoneX)

Finally 21-22 gave us the chance to travel again. The spectre of COVID was still there but once again away games were an option. Personally I really enjoyed a visit to Ashton Gate. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was also brilliant. Where did you go this season? Which was your favourite venue?

      9.            TEAM YOU WOULD LEAST LIKE TO MEET IN A FINAL

Not so much which team do you dislike most, but assuming Sarries make a final (domestic or European) which team would you not want to meet? Leicester Tigers bested us this year but which team will be hardest to beat next season? Tigers again? Quins ? Saints? Irish (our nemesis last year) If we make it all the way in Europe would you not want to face Leinster or new champions La Rochelle?

      10.          BEST REFEREE (2021 Sara Cox)

Which referee has impressed you most this season? One of the new whistle blowers (Sara Cox again) or one of the old guard – Wayne Barnes, Matt Carley, Luke Pearce. European Challenge Cup Competition didn’t give us much to choose from (see next category!) so who do you think was the best referee this season

      11.          TOM FOLEY AWARD FOR WORST REFEREE (Ian Tempest 2021)

Have you forgiven Christophe Ridley for that error at Welford Road? What about those guys you traditionally groan over when they turn up (Tom Foley, Ian Tempest?) The Challenge Cup produced some new candidates too Andrew Brace is always controversial and Adam Jones wasn’t that great. Which referee doesn’t blow your whistle>

      12.          BEST MEDIA PERFORMANCE BY A RUGBY BROADCASTER OR CELEBRITY (2021 Sir Ian McGeechan)

Which presenter/commnetator talks the most sense? BBC gave us Ugo Monye, Andrew Cotter, Sara Orchard and Sam Warburton in the studio. BT gave us Martin Bayfield & Ugo Monye. There are lots of pundits out there too -plus a few “local commentators” on Premiership TV. Who would you like to hear more from?

      13.           BEST PODCAST (2021 Fezcast)

Which is your go to Podcast? Which one is on your auto-download? Fezcast has been consistently good. The Eggchasers is popular with many. The Good the Bad & the Rugby maybe, Flats and Shanks, House of Rugby (featuring our very own Alex Goode). There are many more. Which is your favourite Rugby Podcast

      14.           STUART BARNES  ANDY GOODE AWARD FOR THE WORST RUGBY PRESENTER OR PODCASTER (2021 Andy Goode)

Who do you love to hate? Andy Goode and Stuart Barnes have largely shared this award between them in recent years. But there are others coming through who are pretty annoying: LOL, Austin Healey maybe? Who makes you switch the sound off?

      15.          MICHAEL GENTLEMAN AWARD FOR THE BEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE MESSAGE BOARD (2021 Tony Taff)

Named after a true gentleman, this award reflects those of you who frequent our message board. As always thanks to everyone who bothers to post, comment or contribute to our message board. Innings and Jonny Browne have joined me this season as moderators and I am most grateful to both of them for their help and their extremely eloquent writing. But is there one poster you always read? Is there someone who makes you laugh? Or cry? Who is this year’s message-board hero (ine) ?